Transplanting machine, particularly for rice plants and the like



Janjs, 1928. 1,654,861

O. CERATI TRANSPLANTING MACHINE, PARTICULARLY FOR RICE PLANTS AND THE LIKE Filed June 8, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l ,f m o L9 1 n 1 I l 1;. d".`-Z l s 2( a 1 o g. e

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- zu c; w m "Eig D 'E nufzwoz ffotucq Jan. 3, 1928. 1,654,861

o. CERATI TRANSPLANTING MACHINE, PRTICULARLY FOR RICE PLANTS AND THE LIKE Filed June 18. 3.923

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Im 3, 192s. 1,654,861

O. CERATI TRANSPLANTING MAQHINE, PARTICULARLY FOR RICE PLANTS AND THE LIKE Filed June 18, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 noo Jan. 3, 1928.

O. CERATI TRANSPLANTING MACHINE, PARTICULARLY FOR RICE PLANTS AND THE LIKE Filed June 18, 1923 Patented Jan. 3,Y l1928.

UNITE-D STATES .OTTORINO CERATI, OF VERCELLI, ITALY.

TRANSIPLANTING MACHINE, PARTICLARLY FORBICE TS THE LIKE.

vApplication lcd .Tune 18, 1923, Serial No. 6463273, and in Italy June 23, 1922.

This invention relates to machines for mechanically planting or transplanting rice and like plants, and' has for its objectto provide improved means to facilitate and improve the said operation.

VThe invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafterV described and claimed.

In the .drawings Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of a transplanting machine constructed according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view partly broken away. v l

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the same.

AFigure 5 is a -front elevation of the cone of blades with certain parts removed.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of one of the discs 98 and the associated cone of blades.

Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a front elevation and a detail vertical section of the cam Vwhich cooperates with the cone( of blades.

Figure 9 is a diagram of the development of said cam.

The'leveller consists of a cross plank 1 arranged to slide on the ground through the entire breadth of the machine and under the pressure of a pair of leaf springs 2 fastened at one end to the frame and at the other end to the leveller.

The furrowing device comprises a number of pairs of discs 3, made preferably of steel, a pair of which is shown in Figure 2.

The discs of each .pair are arranged at an l angle to each other and diverge rearwardly. The discsk 3 are adapted to turn about pivots 4 suitablyinclined, each 'pair of pivot/s having a central connecting and spacing sleeve 27 extends transversely of the machine frame and in front of the axle 20, and has a suitable opening 70 (Figure 2) to allow the toothed wheel 71 fastened to said axle to pass therethrough while turning with the latter to transmit rotation to a secondary shaft 72, a toothed pinion 73 of which engages the said wheel 71. f

The transverse secondary shaft 72 is provided with a number of worms 74 which engage worm wheels 75 of vertical shafts 76. The secondary shaft 72 is supported upon suitable bearings 77 fastened to a transverse lower platform 78 supported by the latter to the drum 85.

' armsV 79 to a transverse bar 80, and by'arms 81 to the rear bar, 82 of the' frame. Y' .y `Upon the platform k27 there 7is provided a number of circular basins 83, each having a' iangeor folded edge 84, each basin Lbeing` integral with a drum 85 rotatableabout a verticaly pivot 86. Thev shafts 76 areprovided with driving pulleys 87, an intermediate tension pulley 88 being preferably provided to keep in tension a rubber, or like` endless lloelt'89 embracing the pulley 87 of each shaft 76 and operatively connecting A pair of loose pulleys 90, rotatable on pivots 91 fastened by suitable base pieces 92 to the platform 27 near the front edge thereof, are embraced' by anotherbelt 93 running around the pulley 87 and passing between the drum 85 and pulley 88. Y

The pulleys and belts are so arranged that the latter will run Closely adherent to each other through the portion A B C D, and after the detachment from the pulley 87 at D they will diverge from each other.

The yplants -are disposed by the operator around the drum 85, with their roots in ythe vflat portion of Ithe-basin 83 and outwardly of the portion of belt 89 embracing the drum, in such a manner that while the latter is turning and both belts are running in the direction'ishown'by the arrows, the yplants will be caught andtransported, subystantially vertical and parallel to themselves along the path A B C D ofthe vbelt;s,-to the point of divergency D of thelatter. f

In `connection'with each group or set of drums, pulleys and belts, there is mounted upon the axle 72 a disc and cam gripping device, details of which are shown in Figures 5 to 9, and which will -be detailed with reference thereto.

Each disc andv cam -gripping device com- I prises la bush 94 suitably connected or keyed 'by example as shown at 95, to vthe shaft-72.

S'a'id bush is provided with a iange 96 upon 100 one faceofwhich is fastened, say by bolts 97, a sheet disc v987having va slightly anged edge 99 to strengthen the same. The opposite face of theiiange 96 is provided with a Y circular angular groove 100 and a number 105 of bores 101 to fit fixing screws 102 securing a shoulder 103 provided with a flange 104: parallel to the larger side of the circular indenture or groove 100. The shoulder 103 has fastened to it, say by means of counter- .H0

Vns

sunk rivets 105, a number of substantially radial metallic blades 106, each of which partially overlies the other like fan blades, and being provided on their rear faces with friction pieces 107 at a determined distance from their ends. For sake of clearness, the projection of such blades and pieces is not shown in the side view, Figure 6.

The metallic blades form a cone. A lining cone of rubber or the like 108 is supported thereby and its inner edge 109 is arranged between the flanges 96 and 104. The peripheral portion of the cone may be bent against the sheet metal disc 98, as shown in dotted lines by 108', Figure 6.

Opposite the cone of blades 106 there is mounted on the axle 7 2 a disc cam 110 supported by a bracket 111 having a base 112 which may be bolted to the required position to the lower platform 78.. The bracket will Y be preferably provided with elongated openings 118 to allow the cam to be suitably adjusted by fixing bolts 114 as the case may require. Upon the frontface of the disc cam 110 there is fixed, near its circumference, a ring of soft material 115. The ring 115 in connection with the cam 110 by bearing against the friction pieces 107 causes each peripheral portion of the cone, once during each rotation of the cone, to be closed against the disc 98 as shown in dotted lines at 108 of Figure 9.

Figure 9 shows in plane development the amountof the projection of the cam edge, or eccentricity, about the ground plane M N. It will be seen that the cam is traced in such a way that, assuming the arrows to show the direction of its rotation in respectof the cone of blades, the portion O P will tend to press the blades and rubber cone against the sheet metal disc 98 as hereinbefore stated. The section l? Q, will keep such parts close against saidy disc, as shown by 108 of Figure 6, While the section Q R will allow them to relatively quickly remove away from the disc.

The disc and cam gripping devices are so mounted under each plant carrying assembly 87 (Figure 2) that the projection portion O l? Q of the cam 110 becomes operative substantially after the belts 89 and 98 pass the point D of said pulley.

The plants having been inserted between said belts will therefore be able to be gradually caught between the edges of the disc 98 and rubber lining 108 through the path O P,

t0 be kept by the said edges through the portion P Q, and to be allowed tofall in the furrow while the fan blades 106 and relative lining rubber 108 run opposite the portion Q. R of the cam and are hence opened therefrom. Y

ln the 'example'showm designed for horse traction, the machine is provided with a pole 116, a bench 117 and a foot rest 118 suitably supported on the frame, for theioperator, and a rear seat 119 for the driver.

lu ythe operation, the apparatus is driven in suitable direction and at al relativelylow speed aci-.oss plonghed ground, and will produce the planting in uninterrupted rows,

the only hand operation being to arrange the plants a suitableV distance apart in the distributor', that is, aroundeither the drum 9 or 85. i

lt will be understood that-considerable variations are possible in the details'of the construct-ion without departing from the spirit of my said invention, and therefore do not intend to limit myself to the speciiic forms herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, whatY comprising fan-like elastic metal blades each partially overlying the next adjacent blade by one of its radial edges to form a substantially conical surface, a flexible conical lin-V ing fitted on said cone of blades on the side fac-ing said disc and means to press each vperipheral portion of the lining and blade cones successively against said disc during each rotation of the said cone.

2. lua transplant-ing machine distrihuting means adapted to automatically'supply plants comprising a revoluble disc, a 'conc revoluble therewith and on one side thereof, said cone comprising fan-like elastic metal blades each partially overlying the next adjacent blade by` one of its radial edges to form a substantially conical surface, a flexible conical lining `fitted on'saiid cone of blades, yand a cam'to press each peripheral. portion of the lining and blade cones successively against said disc during each rotation of thesaid cone.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name. y f

OTTORINO/ CERATI. 

